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35
MARIE BONICHAUX
1924: born in Niederkorn (L)
1940: evacuation to Préizerdaul (L); forced entry into the Bund Deutscher Mädel (BDM)
1941: employment at the municipal treasury in Luxembourg City
1942: wants to participate in strikes but discouraged by her supervisor
1943: Reich Labour Service (RAD) in Thuringia (D)
1944: war auxiliary service (Kriegshilfsdienst, KHD), at the Hescho factory in Hermsdorf (D)
1945: liberation by the Americans, return to Luxembourg via Belgium
“Fire drill”, probably in the course of air-raid protection training to assist the fire brigade in the event of bombing raids on German cities, Triebes (Thuringia) 1944
Mir hu misse Pompjee spillen. An do huet den instructeur gesot: Wann ee vun iech de Schlauch lassléisst, flitt dat anert iwwer d’Haiser.
Work
“Inspection of washing bowls” during Reich Labour Service in Thuringia
Mir kruten eng grouss Bidden aus Aluminium fir eis ze wäschen. Déi huet misse blénken, datt een sech konnt dra spigelen.
Marie Bonichaux, contemporary witness interview, 2020
Marie Bonichaux was still a schoolgirl on 10 May 1940. In order to be allowed to continue her education, she had no choice but to join the Bund Deutscher Mädel (League of German Girls). She finished school, and in February 1941 she went to work for the municipal treasury in Luxembourg City. Her supervisor allowed the staff to secretly listen to foreign radio stations. In 1942 she met two Jews. Even though contact with them was forbidden, Marie Bonichaux nevertheless inconspicuously shared her lunch with them. On 31 August 1942 she wanted to take part in the strike but was prevented from doing so. A year later she was conscripted to the Reich Labour Service (RAD) in Thuringia, where she had to participate in drills, political education and other training activities. Marie Bonichaux also had to do kitchen duty and work on farms. From May 1944 she was forced to work for the Nazi war relief service at the Hescho porcelain factory. She was liberated by the Americans in February 1945.
Enges Daags hunn ech d’Sicherunge platze gedoen. Déi 2 Ingenieure soten, si géife mir hëllefen, mä wann se net gefléckt kéinte ginn, da wéisst ech jo, wat mir géing bléien. Ech wier an d’KZ komm, well se geduecht hätten, ech hätt et express gemaach. Si kruten et dunn awer nach gefléckt.
Marie Bonichaux, contemporary witness interview, 2020
From 1944, Marie Bonichaux had to work in a porcelain factory as part of the war relief service. Work pass dated 17 May 1944
Mir goufe kontrolléiert, wéi eis Better waren, eis Schief an esouguer, ob eis Zännbiischte propper waren. War dat net esou, huet eis Virgesetzten alles op de Buedem geschmass an et konnt een erëm vu vir ufänken.
Marie Bonichaux, contemporary witness interview, 2020
After her liberation, Marie Bonichaux made a rucksack out of such a blanket from her war auxiliary service and used it for her journey home to Luxembourg.
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